Both McCloud and City Attorney Jed Hood said the suspension is not a disciplinary action. McCloud said neither he nor any other city officials would be commenting on the investigation.

Lt. Scott McKinley was named acting chief by McCloud when he announced Suciu’s suspension on Feb. 9.

The suspension followed a report by Paul Akers of WBNS-10TV that Reynoldsburg police used OnStar to track a woman’s vehicle without a warrant. The report identified the woman as a longtime friend of a Reynoldsburg police officer.

According to the 10TV report, she sent text messages to the officer threatening suicide and telling him that she had a gun.

Later that night, Pickerington police stopped the woman’s vehicle for a traffic violation, then learned that Reynoldsburg police had been tracking her and that she had a gun.

Police dispatch recordings indicated Pickerington police objected when a Reynoldsburg officer arrived on the scene and put handcuffs on the woman and put her in his patrol car.

Reynoldsburg City Attorney Jed Hood said the city is seeking outside legal counsel.

“This is not disciplinary action,” Hood said. “We believe it’s for our benefit and the chief’s benefit until more questions are answered.”

Suciu, 50, a resident of Zanesville, has been employed by the Reynoldsburg Police Department for more than seven years. He has served as chief for the past six years. Suciu was first hired as a lieutenant with the department in August 2004, and was sworn in as chief in December 2005.

A review of Suciu’s personnel records, obtained through a public records request filed by ThisWeek, revealed no past disciplinary actions. His past performance evaluations were all classified as “above average.”

Quan Trong of The Columbus Dispatch and Paul Akers of WBNS-10TV contributed to this story.